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Xi’s wealth redistribution push starts with stick

The wealthiest 1% of Chinese people now hold 31% of the country’s wealth, up from 21% two decades ago, per a Credit Suisse report. The pandemic, which hit small businesses and poor workers hardest, has exacerbated the gap, yet the number of newly-minted ultra-rich surged 50% compared to 2019 as financial markets popped.
Increasing disposable incomes for ordinary people, which only grew 1% for urban residents in 2020, will be trickier in a system better at driving growth through investment than consumption. It will require fresh fiscal transfers and increased social spending, and companies and wealthy people will probably be on the hook to help pay.
Real estate contributes 70% to China’s wealth gap, noted Li Shi, an expert on income distribution at Beijing Normal University.

Has global automobile market revived? ​​​​​​​

By market, India market showed the largest increase of 95.2 per cent year-on-year. It was followed by Russia (38.2 per cent |), the US (29.3 per cent |), China (27.5 per cent |), Europe (27.1 per cent |), Brazil (26.3 per cent |), and Mexico (18.1 per cent |). Compared to the first half of 2019 before COVID-19, India (1.5 per cent |) and Russia (6.0 per cent |) showed positive growth rate. The U.S. (1.3 per cent |) and China (1.1 per cent |) also showed similar level before COVID-19. However, Brazil (24.6 per cent |), Europe (23.0 per cent |), and Mexico (19.6 per cent |) showed relatively slow recovery.

ANALYSIS-Climate science struggles with ‘blind spots’ in developing nations

Only 35% of the authors working on the sixth assessment report – the current series that will culminate in a synthesis due to be finalized in September next year – hail from developing countries, according to a study published in the MDPI journal Climate, up from 31% for the fifth assessment report. Huq said that during his time working on the third and fourth IPCC assessment reports, published in 2001 and 2007, the number of scientists’ nationalities increased – but countries in the Global South were represented by just one or two authors.

Japanese crypto exchange hit by estimated $94 mln hack

London-based blockchain analysis firm Elliptic said digital addresses identified by Liquid as belonging to the thief had totalled over $94 million , including $45 million in tokens connected to the Ethereum blockchain.

The hacker or hackers is converting these tokens to the ether cryptocurrency via so-called decentralised – peer-to-peer – exchanges, Elliptic said, adding that it was aiding Liquid in tracking the stolen funds.

China’s planned anti-sanctions law for Hong Kong unsettles financial sector

Under the planned law, if financial institutions in Hong Kong implement U.S. sanctions, they may be exposed to legal risk in Hong Kong for doing so, financial sector executives and lawyers said.

“Many foreign multinational companies are asking about the impact of the anti-foreign sanctions law, especially international banks and financial institutions,” said Shaun Wu, a Hong Kong-based partner at law firm Paul Hastings.

Japanese general insurance industry to reach $133.1bn in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

Motor insurance is the largest segment in the Japanese general insurance industry with 51.5% of GWP in 2020. It is forecasted to grow by 1.4% in 2021 against the decline of -3.6% in 2020, backed by improved vehicle sales. According to the Japan Auto Manufacture Association (JAMA), new vehicle registrations during January-April 2021 increased by 4.2% as compared to same period in 2020.

The segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.7% during 2020-2025. The launch of fully autonomous vehicles targeting local and global markets as well as expansion of electric car market is expected to drive growth of the motor insurance segment during the forecast period

FDI proposal for bank-promoted insurance firm to be vetted by RBI, Irdai: Govt notification

”Applications for foreign direct investment in private banks having joint venture or subsidiary in insurance sector may be addressed to the Reserve Bank for consideration in consultation with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), in order to ensure that the limit of foreign investment applicable for the insurance sector as specified in serial number F. 8.1 and F. 8.2 is not breached,” the notification said.

India approves Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D vaccine for emergency use for adults and children above 12 yrs

Chairperson of the Zydus Group, Pankaj R Patel said, “We are extremely happy that our efforts to put out a safe, well-tolerated and efficacious vaccine to fight COVID-19 has become a reality with ZyCoV-D. To create the world’s first DNA vaccine at such a crucial juncture and despite all the challenges, is a tribute to the Indian research scientists and their spirit of innovation. I’d like to thank the Department of Biotechnology under the Government of India for their support in this mission of Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Indian Vaccine Mission COVID Suraksha.”

India smartphone mkt to reach record 173 mn units in 2021: report

In 2020, the Indian market outperformed the North America, Latin America and Africa markets.

”Our outlook for India for the next five years remains positive, keeping in mind its 1.39-billion (and growing) population, upgrade of users from feature phone to smartphone, and future emergence of new use cases. The market is set to cross the 200-million mark in the next couple of years,” Counterpoint said.

China passes sweeping data privacy law, toughens regulation on tech companies

Xinhua also reported that the law will create stronger regulation of China’s public surveillance system, requiring the disclosure and labelling of hardware used in identifying people in public places. Collected data can only be used for maintaining public safety, the news agency said. China operates a vast network of cameras, backed by advanced facial recognition and AI-driven technology, to control crime but also to check identities in subways, schools and office buildings.

The law also stipulates that companies cannot use personal data to target individuals for marketing, according to state broadcaster CCTV. And firms must provide easy ways for users to opt-out of targeted marketing, reported CNN. CCTV also reported that sensitive personal information — such as biometrics, health care and financial accounts — should only be processed with the individual’s consent.

RBI Guv pitches for continued policy support to revive growth, monitoring inflation

”The need of the hour is twofold: first, continue the monetary policy support to the economy; and second, remain watchful of any durable inflationary pressures and sustained price momentum in key components so as to bring back the CPI inflation to 4 per cent over a period of time in a non-disruptive manner,” he said.

Nearly 1Bln children at ‘extremely high risk’ globally because of climate change: UNICEF

“Approximately one billion children, nearly half the world’s 2.2 billion children – live in one of the 33 countries classified as ‘extremely high-risk’,” UNICEF said. The risk factors considered in the study included flooding, cyclones, heatwaves, water scarcity, air pollution, lead pollution, and infectious diseases.

“Climate and environmental shocks are undermining the complete spectrum of children’s rights, from access to clean air, food, and safe water; to education, housing, freedom from exploitation, and even their right to survive. Virtually no child’s life will be unaffected,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said.